Director: Steven Spielberg
Venue: DVD
DVD Features: audio, subtitles, intro by Spielberg
The movie Munich was inspired by the terrorist abduction and massacre of 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics. It features actual television news coverage from the event. However, instead of focusing on the attack itself, the movie revolves around the subsequent activities of a team of agents assigned to hunt down the men responsible. It centers on the man chosen to lead these clandestine activities and the psychological effects the mission has on him.
Munich is heavily charged with political commentary that is as relevant now as it was in 1972. I imagine that is why Spielberg chose to release this movie when he did. I also think this director likes to make movies from time to time that remind the film making community that he’s still very Jewish. Not being much of a history buff, and not having been around in 1972, I wasn’t previously aware of the Olympic tragedy in Munich. My lack of knowledge, however, didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the film. The opening scenes give enough background of the event to prepare the audience for the rest of the movie and does so quickly and actively enough to hold its interest. The movie’s basis on true events also serves to generate more of a desire to focus on what’s happening between the various players involved.
Plot: 4 stars
I really enjoyed the way Munich showed how effected these men were by everything going on around them. I found the acting in the movie convincing. The decline of the main character’s state of mind is consistent and apparent. It seems believable for a man in his situation. The men on his team are made up of the usual assortment of specialists, like an episode of Mission Impossible or The A-Team. There is the explosives specialist, the testosterone junky, and the clean-up expert. In this regard, Munich lost points for originality.
Acting: 3 stars
As should be expected of any espionage drama, there are plenty of action sequences. Although there isn’t much in the way of hand-to-hand combat, the movie is loaded with explosions and gunplay. Munich fills the in-between moments with tension and suspense. All of these ingredients are well paced and there aren’t any dull or boring scenes.
Action: 4 stars
The only category in which this Spielberg feature seriously lacks, is atmosphere. Although a large majority of the story takes place on foreign soil, there isn’t much of an international feel. Whether it was a sunny day in Italy, a rainy night in Brussels, or an industrial compound in Lebanon, I still felt like I hadn’t left the Hollywood lot. It takes more than a backdrop of the Eiffel Tower to make Paris come alive. Likewise, it takes more than a few colorful explosions to impress me.
Visual: 2 stars
Avner (Eric Bana) and his team are charged with the task of assassinating the 11 Palesinian men behind the athlete’s deaths. All of them are Jewish and, consequently, Munich is peppered with dialogue illustrating the characters’ convictions and beliefs. There are several points in the film, during which, the men involved question whether or not what they’re doing is right or justified. However, even the conversations that required subtitles didn’t do much to convince me of the regional differences.
Dialogue: 3 ½ stars
In summary, Munich was a satisfying cinematic experience. I neglected to view any of the DVD’s special features, but I do know that an intro by the director is available as an option to preceed the film. If you are into international espionage, Munich is solid, but don’t expect any James Bond type romance. Rent this movie only if you’ve got 2 hours and 44 minutes of uninterrupted viewing time (it sounds longer than it feels). This is definitely a movie that you’ll regret not giving your full attention to.
Alternate viewing choice: Syriana
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